Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first against Pakistan in the opening match of the ODI tri-nation series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, October 18.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi confirmed that wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig would make his ODI debut. Afridi said his team would aim to post a total of around 300 runs in the opening match.
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Pakistan will face England at the same venue on October 20, while Sri Lanka will meet England on October 22. The tournament will then move to Lahore for the remaining group-stage matches, with Pakistan playing England on October 25 and Sri Lanka on October 27.
Sri Lanka and England will play the final group-stage match on October 29. The top two teams will qualify for the final at Gaddafi Stadium on October 31.
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Pakistan enter the tournament after winning their three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka 2-1. Led by Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan won the first two matches before Sri Lanka claimed victory in the final game.
Pakistan’s playing XI includes Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saad Baig, Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah. Sri Lanka’s lineup features Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Sachindu Colombage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.